Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsalix’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsalix’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; white and purple-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsalix’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsalix’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flowercolors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1998 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 96-279-2, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 95-157-2PN, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by theInventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, TheNetherlands in April, 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in acontrolled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since August, 1999,has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Zalsalix’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsalix’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsalix’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. White and purple-colored flowers.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria has larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent        selection differed in flower color as plants of the female        parent selection had purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        had white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Charmes, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed fromplants of the cultivar Charmes primarily in flower color as flowers ofplants of the new Alstroemeria had darker purple-colored margins thanplants of the cultivar Charmes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsalix’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown inRijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in groundbeds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C., soiltemperature was about 14° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plantsused for the photograph and description were about one year-old. Thephotograph and the description were taken during March and April, 2005.Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar ‘Zalsalix’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection            identified as 96-279-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida            identified as 95-157-2PN, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to            155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90            days.        -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 200 to            220.        -   Plant height.—About 90 cm to 130 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            120 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Internode length:            About 1 cm to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves simple and asymmetrical;            sessile. Length: About 15 cm to 19 cm. Width: About 4 cm to            5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel.            Color: Developing and fully developed foliage, upper            surface: Close to 137A; slightly glossy; venation, similar            to lamina. Developing and fully developed foliage, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, similar to lamina.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and            continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 20 to 25 days.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:            138A overlain with 59B.        -   Umbel length.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6 cm to 6.5 cm.            Width, lateral segments: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Length,            median segment: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Width, median segment:            About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Shape, lateral and median segments:            Obovate. Apex, lateral and median segments: Emarginate.            Base, lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin,            lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly undulate.            Texture, lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color, lateral and median segments, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: 155C; margins, 82A; apical            tip, close to 144A. Color, lateral and median segments, when            opening and fully opened, lower surface: 82B; apical tip,            close to 144A. Inner perianth: Length, lateral segments:            About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 2 cm.            Length, median segment: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm. Width, median            segment: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Shape, lateral and median            segments: Oblanceolate. Apex, lateral and median segments:            Acute. Base, lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin,            lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly undulate.            Texture, lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color, lateral segments, when opening and fully            opened, upper surface: 155C; margins, 82A; stripes, close to            59A. Color, lateral segments, when opening and fully opened,            lower surface: 155C; margins, 82B. Color, median segment,            when opening and fully opened, upper surface: 155C; margins,            82A; stripes, close to 59A. Color, median segment, when            opening and fully opened, lower surface: 155C; margins, 82C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm to 9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 9 mm. Anther            diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 177A. Filament            length: About 3.7 cm to 4.2 cm. Filament color: 78A, towards            the apex, 78C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 83A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length:            About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Style color: 78B. Stigma color: 78C.            Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruit.—Quantity of fruit per plant: Few. Shape: Globular.            Color: 139A. Size: About 1 cm by 8 mm.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemerias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from −5° C. to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsalix’,as illustrated and described.